Front axle for automobile vehicles



Dec. 18, 1934. E. BUGATTI 1,985,145

FRONT AXLE FOR AUTOMOBILE VEHICLES Filed July 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 18, 1934. E, BUGATTI FRONT AXLE FOR AUTOMOBILE VEHICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1933 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 1,985,145

j 1,985,145 I Fitoiv'r AXLE FOB AU'EOMQBQE'YEEHIQLE'SZ I, t Y EttoreBugatti, Molsli 'i fl; ian

' Application July 28, 1933, Serial No. 682,702

In France August 8, 1932 4 Claims. (Cl. 267-66) It is known that a frontaxle having suspenwheel, so that the arrangement according to my sionsprings fixed in the ordinary fashion cannot invention has the advantageof ensuring a withstand a very high torsion resulting from a smoothsteering of the vehicle. braking or a motive traction. It is obviousthat the connection between the 5 In order to obviate this drawback, ithas been two portions a and b of the axle can be made in v 5 proposed tofit the front axle with connecting any suitable way, for instance asshown in Fig. rods or other similar organs intended to main- 5, inwhich,.portion a is provided at its end with tain the axle in positionin a more or'less rigid a screw threaded part a which is screwed in amanner by opposing a resistance to the reversing sleeve b keyed onportion b. I may also utilize torque acting in the direction of rotationof the the arrangement of Fig. 6 in which sleeve b is 10 wheels.However, these arrangements have integral with the end of portion b.

many drawbacks due to the relative displace- In the normal position, it,is preferable that ment of the front axle with reference to the the endsof portions a and b should be in contact frame of the automobile. witheach other. v

The object of the present invention is to pro- In the embodiments ofFigs. '7 and 8, the axle 15 vide an improved front axle which is freefrom is made of three portions, a central portion 11 all thesedrawbacks. To this effect, the axle acand two outer portions a and athat carry the cording to my invention consists of two or morearticulations of the stub axles.

portions suitably assembled together so that said In Fig. 7, portions aand a are engaged in portions may have a relative angulardisplacesleeves b provided at either end of the middle 2 ment, theseportions being further strengthened portion 22 byindependent reactionrods opposing the ef- In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the ends of acn fortsdue to the braking torque. tral portion 1) are of conical shape and areen- Preferred embodiments of my invention will be 'gaged in sleevesprovided in portions a and a 25 hereinafter described with reference tothe ac- While I have described what I deem to be 25 companying drawingsgiven merely by way of practical and eflicient embodiments of myinexample, and in which: vention, it should be well understood that I dogs- 1, 2 and 3 are a front view, a plan view not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be and a S de V respectively f an mproved changesmade in the arrangement, disposition front axl acc r n to my inven i n;and form of the parts without departing from 30 Fig. 4 is a sectionalview on the line 4-4 of the principle of my invention, as comprehendedFig. 2 within the scope of the appended claims.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views corresponding What I claim is; todifie e em o of y v e 1. In an automobile vehicle including a frame,

Figs- 7 d are front VieWS Showing ot e the combination of a front axlemade of at least. 35 embodiments of my invention in which the front twoseparate portions placed in line with each axle is made o three d c pother, means for connecting said portions to- AS S wn in the drawings,the p v front gether so that they can have relative angular axle ac rdinto my invention is out in s m ddisplacements about an axis parallel tothe di-' 40 (1 pa that is to Say consists of tWO Portions rection of theaxle, and at least one triangle- 40 17 Connected y a bOX bearing 0 thatpermits shaped rigid structure pivoted on the one hand 7 O f Saidportions 11 to move angulerly with to one of said portions about avertical axis respect to the Other Portion parallel to one of the sidesof said triangle and,

c o these portions is Provided With a on the other hand to said frameabout a horiactio d d preferably mounted as Shown in zontal axis atright angles to said triangle, for 45 gst is to y, consisting of a h p dopposing the effects of braking and tractive piece pivoted about avertical spindle e carried torques 1 by the axle, and about a horizontalspindle f 2. In an automobile vehicle including a frame, carried by theframe. the combination of a front axle made of two 0 Owing to thisarrangement, the two conneetseparate portions placed in line with eachother, ing rods can follow the deformations of the axle, a flange ateach of the adjacent ends of said that is to say are permitted not toremain paralportions, a box surrounding said I flanges for lel when saidaxle moves with respect to the connecting said portions together so thattheyframe. The presence of these two reaction rods can have relativeangular displacements about reduces the reaction stresses on thesteering an axis parallel to the direction of the axle, and 55 at leastone triangle-shaped rigid structure pivoted on the one hand to one ofsaid portions about a vertical axis parallel to one of the sides of saidtriangle and, on the other hand to said frame about a horizontal axis atright angles to said triangle, for opposing the effects of braking andtractive torques.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which the means for connectingtogether the portions of the axle consists of a screw'threaded sleevecarried by one of said portions and in which the end of the otherportion can be screwed.

4. In an automobile vehicle including a frame, the combination of afront axle made of three separate portions placed in line with eachother, means for connecting the central portion with each of the two endportions so that they can have relative angular displacements about anaxis parallel to the direction of the axle with respect to said centralportion, and at least one triangle-shaped rigid structure pivoted on theone hand to one of said portions about a vertical axis parallel to oneof the sides of said triangle and,'on the other hand to said frame abouta horizontal axis at right angles to said triangle. for opposingtheefiects of braking and tractive torques.

ETTORE BUGATTI.

